Will Ethridge will be traveling to Aspen, Colorado, this weekend to participate X Games Aspen 2023 as a part of the Special Olympics Unified Sports competition. While it will be a lot colder than here in Tennessee, Will is excited to snowboard on a snowy mountain and be a part of the X Games. Snowboarding is one of his favorite things to do and talk about, bringing the X Games excitement to another level.
Ethridge, 30, will be competing in the X Games for the first time in his fifteen-year snowboarding career. Originally from Kingston Springs, Tennessee, he is representing Special Olympics Tennessee alongside athletes from multiple states and countries. Special Olympics athletes from Switzerland, Canada, Italy, Finland, and states across the U.S. will also be traveling to compete at this year's X Games. He is thrilled to have an opportunity to meet new people from different parts of the world and participate in a new competition.
Ethridge will snowboard in a slalom race, which consists of snowboarding downhill and weaving in and out of poles that are placed throughout the course. Rather than riding straight down the hill, he will have to curve around the obstacles on his way to the bottom.
“It makes me feel good to get to go to the X Games," said Ethridge. "I’m ready to go.”
Along with competing in the X Games, he will also get to watch competition from additional X Games athletes as well. The schedule includes Men’s and Women’s Superpipe competition, as well as slopestyle skiing.
Ethridge has been a part of the Special Olympics community for twenty-one years. When asking him about his favorite part of Special Olympics Tennessee, he notes that he loves “all of it.” The opportunities to snowboard and see his friends may rank among the top of his list, however. With Special Olympics Tennessee, Ethridge has played basketball, volleyball, and flag football as well. It makes him feel good and proud to be a part of Special Olympics Tennessee and the Special Olympics athlete community as a whole.
“I like it because I have fun and get to meet people," said Ethridge.
Ethridge is also competing in Special Olympics Tennessee’s Winter Games held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, at the beginning of next week. He is excited to head to Ober Mountain after completion of the X Games to witness the torch lighting ceremony and compete in snowboarding for this year’s Winter Games.
“I’m going to the X Games and then right to Winter Games," said Ethridge. "I am just excited to snowboard!”
We wish Will the best of luck at the X Games and Special Olympics Tennessee’s Winter Games this weekend and are eager to hear about his experiences when he returns.
